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Micah 6

God has a quarrel with Israel's people

6 Now listen to what the Lord says:

‘Stand up! Explain in front of the mountains what I want to say.
Speak loud so that the hills can hear your voice. [ a ]
2 Listen, you mountains.
Hear this, you strong places that have always been there deep in the earth.
The Lord has a quarrel with Israel's people.
Hear the reasons why the Lord is angry with you, his people.’
3 ‘My people, what bad thing have I done to you?’ God asks.
‘How have I made you tired of me?
Answer me.
4 I brought you out of Egypt.
You were slaves in that country,
but I made you free people.
I sent Moses to lead you,
and Aaron and Miriam with him.
5 My people, please remember the bad things that King Balak of Moab tried to do.
And remember what Balaam, Beor's son, answered him. [ b ]
Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal. [ c ]
Then you will remember that I, the Lord , do good things.’

What God wants from his people

6 ‘I come to meet with the Lord ,’ you say. [ d ]
‘I must know what to bring when I come.
I bend down to worship him.
I must know what to offer when I bend down.
He is God and he is greater than everything.
Perhaps he would like it if I burn young cows one year old for him.
7 He might be happy with thousands of male sheep,
or ten thousand rivers of olive oil.
I have not obeyed God.
I might even kill and burn my oldest son, because of that.
I have done wrong things and I must pay God for that.
Perhaps, if I give my own child to him, that will be enough to pay.’

8 But God has told us what is good. [ e ] This is what the Lord wants from us:

‘You must be fair to other people,’ God says.
‘You must want to be kind. [ f ]
And you must be careful to do what I show you.’

God will punish people that are not honest

9 The Lord shouts to the people in the city of Jerusalem.
So it is good for us to listen carefully to what he says.
‘Listen to me, because I have the authority to punish you,’ God says.
10 ‘You bad people still hide valuable things that you have taken from other people.
I will not forget this.
You bad people use false weights to measure the food that you sell.
I hate that.
11 I will not excuse you people who use false weights.
You are not being honest if you weigh things like that.
12 You rich people in the city are very cruel.
Everyone there says things that are not true.
All of them speak false words.
13 So I will make you so sick that you will never get well.
I have begun to destroy you because you have done bad things.
14 You will eat, but you will still feel hungry.
You will store things and you will try to keep them safe.
But you will fail to save them.
I will cause enemies to destroy all your things in the war.
15 You will plant seeds,
but you will not bring in the harvest.
You will crush olives,
but you will not use the olive oil for yourselves. [ g ]
You will crush grapes,
but you will not drink the wine from them.
16 You have obeyed the rules of King Omri.
You have done what King Ahab and all his people did. [ h ]
You have copied their wicked ideas.
So I must destroy you and all your things completely.
Then people from other countries will not be kind or polite to you.
Instead, they will make you ashamed.’

Footnotes

  1. 6:1 God wants both the highest and lowest places on earth to hear him speak against his people. He tells Micah to speak as if he is in a court of law. This is a place where people judge what is right and wrong.
  2. 6:5 King Balak asked Balaam to speak bad words to God's people. He wanted them to have trouble. But God made Balaam speak only good words. (See Numbers 22—24 .)
  3. 6:5 Shittim was on the east side of the Jordan River. Gilgal was on the west side. The river was very full of water when God's people needed to cross it. So God made a path through the water for them to cross the river. (See Joshua 3—4 .)
  4. 6:6 Micah speaks as one man, on behalf of Israel's people. They want to give gifts to God. They will give anything that God wants. They will try to pay for what they have done wrong. Some people wanted to kill and burn a child as a way to give him to God. We know that God certainly does not want this.
  5. 6:8 Micah replies on God's behalf. God wanted the people to obey him. He did not really want other gifts from them.
  6. 6:8 Micah uses a special word for ‘kind’. It means to be a friend. And not to stop, whatever happens.
  7. 6:15 Olives are small fruits that people crush to make oil.
  8. 6:16 Omri and his son, Ahab, were bad kings. They lived in Israel many years before Micah spoke these words.

The Lord’s Complaint

6 Now hear what the Lord says:
“Present your argument to the mountains.
Let the hills hear your story. [ a ]
2 The Lord has a complaint against his people.
Mountains, listen to the Lord ’s complaint.
Foundations of the earth, hear the Lord.
He will prove that Israel is wrong!”

3 He says, “My people, tell me what I did!
Did I do something wrong against you?
Did I make life too hard for you?
4 I will tell you what I did.
I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to you.
I brought you from the land of Egypt.
I freed you from slavery.
5 My people, remember the evil plans of Balak king of Moab.
Remember what Balaam son of Beor said to Balak.
Remember what happened from Acacia to Gilgal, [ b ]
and you will know the Lord is right!”

What Does God Want From Us?

6 What must I bring when I come to meet with the Lord ?
What must I do when I bow down to God above?
Should I come to him with burnt offerings
and a year-old calf?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with a thousand rams
or with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Should I offer him my first child to pay for my wrongs?
Should I sacrifice my very own child for my sins?

8 Human, the Lord has told you what goodness is.
This is what he wants from you:
Be fair to other people.
Love kindness and loyalty,
and humbly obey your God.

What Were the Israelites Doing?

9 The Lord shouts to the city:
“A wise person respects the Lord’s name. [ c ]
So pay attention to the punishing rod and to the one who uses it! [ d ]
10 Do the wicked still hide treasures
that they have stolen?
Do they still cheat people
with baskets that are too small? [ e ]
Yes, all of this is still happening!
11 Some people carry special weights
that they use to cheat people when they weigh their goods.
Should I pardon them?
12 The rich in that city are still cruel.
The people there still tell lies.
Yes, they tell their lies.
13 So I have begun to punish you.
I will destroy you because of your sins.
14 You will eat, but you will not become full.
You will still be hungry and empty. [ f ]
You will try to bring people to safety,
but people with swords will kill the people you rescued.
15 You will plant your seeds,
but you will not gather food.
You will try to squeeze oil from your olives,
but you will not get any oil.
You will crush your grapes,
but you will not get enough juice to have wine to drink.
16 This is because you obey the laws of Omri. [ g ]
You do all the evil things that Ahab’s family does.
You follow their teachings,
so I will let you be destroyed.
People will whistle in amazement
when they see your destroyed city.
Then you will bear the shame
that the other nations bring to you.” [ h ]

Footnotes

  1. Micah 6:1 This is like a court case. The mountains and hills are the judge and jury.
  2. Micah 6:5 Acacia to Gilgal This story is found in Num. 22-25.
  3. Micah 6:9 the Lord’s name Literally, “your name.”
  4. Micah 6:9 So pay attention … uses it The Hebrew text here is hard to understand.
  5. Micah 6:10 baskets … too small Literally, “short ephahs.” An ephah is about 1/2 bushel.
  6. Micah 6:14 You … empty The Hebrew text here is unclear.
  7. Micah 6:16 Omri A king of Israel who led his nation to worship false gods. See 1 Kings 16:21-26.
  8. Micah 6:16 Then … you Or “My people’s shame will be taken away.”

6 Hear ye now what the Lord saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.

2 Hear ye, O mountains, the Lord 's controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the Lord hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.

3 O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.

4 For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

5 O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord .

6 Wherewith shall I come before the Lord , and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?

7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

9 The Lord 's voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.

10 Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?

11 Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?

12 For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

13 Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins.

14 Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.

15 Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.

16 For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.

God’s Indictment of His People

6 Hear now what the Lord is saying,
“Arise, plead your case [ a ] before the mountains,
And let the hills hear your voice.
2 Listen, you mountains, to the indictment by the Lord ,
And you enduring ( A ) foundations of the earth,
Because the ( B ) Lord has a case against His people;
And He will dispute with Israel.
3 ( C ) My people, ( D ) what have I done to you,
And ( E ) how have I wearied you? Answer Me.
4 Indeed, I ( F ) brought you up from the land of Egypt,
I ( G ) redeemed you from the house of slavery,
And I sent before you ( H ) Moses, Aaron, and ( I ) Miriam.
5 My people, remember now
What ( J ) Balak king of Moab planned
And what Balaam son of Beor answered him,
And what happened from ( K ) Shittim to ( L ) Gilgal,
[ b ] So that you might know the ( M ) righteous acts of the Lord .”

What God Requires of Mankind

6 ( N ) With what shall I come to the Lord
And bow myself before the God on high?
Shall I come to Him with ( O ) burnt offerings,
With yearling calves?
7 Does the Lord take pleasure in ( P ) thousands of rams,
In ten thousand rivers of [ c ] oil?
Shall I give Him my ( Q ) firstborn for my wrongdoings,
The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has ( R ) told you, mortal one, what is good;
And ( S ) what does the Lord require of you
But to ( T ) do justice, to ( U ) love [ d ] kindness,
And to walk [ e ] ( V ) humbly with your God?

9 The voice of the Lord will call to the city—
And it is sound wisdom to fear Your name:
“ [ f ] Hear, you tribe. Who has designated [ g ] its time?
10 Is there still a person in the wicked house,
Along with treasures of ( W ) wickedness,
And a [ h ] ( X ) short measure that is cursed?
11 Can I justify dishonest ( Y ) balances,
And a bag of fraudulent weights?
12 For the rich people of [ i ] the city are full of ( Z ) violence,
Her residents speak ( AA ) lies,
And their ( AB ) tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
13 So also I will make you ( AC ) sick, striking you down,
( AD ) Making you desolate because of your sins.
14 You will eat, but you will ( AE ) not be satisfied,
And your filth will be in your midst.
You will try to remove valuables for safekeeping ,
But you will ( AF ) not save it all ,
And what you do save I will turn over to the sword.
15 You will sow but you will ( AG ) not harvest.
You will tread the olive press but will not anoint yourself with oil;
And tread out sweet wine, but you will ( AH ) not drink any wine.
16 The statutes of ( AI ) Omri
And every work of the house of ( AJ ) Ahab are maintained,
And you ( AK ) walk by their plans.
Therefore I will give you up for ( AL ) destruction,
And [ j ] your inhabitants for [ k ] ( AM ) derision,
And you will suffer the ( AN ) taunting of My people.”

Footnotes

  1. Micah 6:1 Lit with
  2. Micah 6:5 Lit In order to know
  3. Micah 6:7 I.e., olive oil
  4. Micah 6:8 Or loyalty
  5. Micah 6:8 Or circumspectly
  6. Micah 6:9 Or Hear about the rod and who designated it
  7. Micah 6:9 Lit it
  8. Micah 6:10 Lit shrunken ephah
  9. Micah 6:12 Lit her are
  10. Micah 6:16 Lit her
  11. Micah 6:16 Lit whistling (in mockery)

The Lord ’s Case Against Israel

6 Listen to what the Lord says:

“Stand up, plead my case before the mountains; ( A )
let the hills hear what you have to say.

2 “Hear, ( B ) you mountains, the Lord ’s accusation; ( C )
listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth.
For the Lord has a case ( D ) against his people;
he is lodging a charge ( E ) against Israel.

3 “My people, what have I done to you?
How have I burdened ( F ) you? ( G ) Answer me.
4 I brought you up out of Egypt ( H )
and redeemed you from the land of slavery. ( I )
I sent Moses ( J ) to lead you,
also Aaron ( K ) and Miriam. ( L )
5 My people, remember
what Balak ( M ) king of Moab plotted
and what Balaam son of Beor answered.
Remember your journey from Shittim ( N ) to Gilgal, ( O )
that you may know the righteous acts ( P ) of the Lord .”

6 With what shall I come before ( Q ) the Lord
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old? ( R )
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, ( S )
with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? ( T )
Shall I offer my firstborn ( U ) for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? ( V )
8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly ( W ) and to love mercy
and to walk humbly [ a ] ( X ) with your God. ( Y )

Israel’s Guilt and Punishment

9 Listen! The Lord is calling to the city—
and to fear your name is wisdom—
“Heed the rod ( Z ) and the One who appointed it. [ b ]
10 Am I still to forget your ill-gotten treasures, you wicked house,
and the short ephah, [ c ] which is accursed? ( AA )
11 Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales, ( AB )
with a bag of false weights? ( AC )
12 Your rich people are violent; ( AD )
your inhabitants are liars ( AE )
and their tongues speak deceitfully. ( AF )
13 Therefore, I have begun to destroy ( AG ) you,
to ruin [ d ] you because of your sins.
14 You will eat but not be satisfied; ( AH )
your stomach will still be empty. [ e ]
You will store up but save nothing, ( AI )
because what you save [ f ] I will give to the sword.
15 You will plant but not harvest; ( AJ )
you will press olives but not use the oil,
you will crush grapes but not drink the wine. ( AK )
16 You have observed the statutes of Omri ( AL )
and all the practices of Ahab’s ( AM ) house;
you have followed their traditions. ( AN )
Therefore I will give you over to ruin ( AO )
and your people to derision;
you will bear the scorn ( AP ) of the nations. [ g ] ”

Footnotes

  1. Micah 6:8 Or prudently
  2. Micah 6:9 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.
  3. Micah 6:10 An ephah was a dry measure.
  4. Micah 6:13 Or Therefore, I will make you ill and destroy you; / I will ruin
  5. Micah 6:14 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  6. Micah 6:14 Or You will press toward birth but not give birth, / and what you bring to birth
  7. Micah 6:16 Septuagint; Hebrew scorn due my people
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